Automatic starting device for vapor-lamps.



P. G. HEWITT.

AUTOMATIC STARTING DEVICE FOR VAPOR LAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1903.

Patented June 10,1913.

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, TED TMENT OFFICE? PETER COOPER HEWITT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BYMESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO COOPER HEWITT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC STARTING DEVICE FOR VAPOR-LAMPS.

Application filed May 2, 1903. Serial No. 155,309,

' To altwhom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, PE'rnR COOPER Hnwrr'r, acitizen ofthe United States, and resident of New York, county of New York, State offNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in;. Automatic Starting Devices for Vapor-Lamps, of which the-following is a specification,

In 7 my ,application Number 52,488, filed March 23, 1901, it has been proposed, among other things, to start a gas or vapor electrlc apparatus of the character described, for example, in some of its embodiments 1n certain patents issued to me September17,

1901, by automaticallyestablishing at the negative electrode-a local flow of current. Such a flow once started, will under proper conditions be suflicient to cause a flow of currentthrough the entire gas oryapor apparatus from the positive to the negative. In explanation of this action 1t. may be said that one of the chief obstacles elect-rode.

tothe flow of current fro-m the positive to the negative electrode in the first instance, is the existence at the negative electrode of whathas been called a negative electrode reiluctance. On a breaking down of this reluctance, whethenby an impulse of higher potential impressed upon the electrodes, as described in some of the above. patents, or

by establishing a local flow of currentatthe electrode, as set forth herein and in my application-abovereferred to, the current;

which istending tov flow from the positive to the negative electrode will actually start and be maintained.

The presentinventionrelates to a.novel mode of establishing the local flow'of current automatically, as will appear from the specification which follows.

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates in elevation one form of gas or vapor electric apparatus having my improvements applied,

thereto; and Fig. 2 shows a modification.

In the drawings, 1 is the container of an apparatus of this class, and 2 and 3 are, re-

spectively, the permanent positive and negative el-ectrodesithereof. The positive-elecconstruct at one end of the tubular container a chamber or enlargement, 4, provided with-pockets, 5 and 6, and with an extension 7. The pocket 6 contains mercury constituting the permanentv negative electrode, and pocket 5 also contains mercury (shown at. 8) which, for the purposes of the present invention,. is a temporary positive electrode;

Into the mercury puddles 3 and 8 dip the ends of a metallic strip, 9, preferably of platinum. The: said strip is suitably connected to the lowerend of a rod, 10, the up per .end of which passes into the extension 7. All or a part of this rod is formed of -magnetic material, and is adapted to be acted upon by. the'coil 11 surrounding the extension..7. When the said coil is ener- 01fv injuriousgases. in the operation of'the gized the rod islifted and carries with it device, .I prefer to inclose the said arma- 1 ture in. glass or other inert material, as

shown at- 145. Such scaling, for the same purpose,.may extend to the strip 9, except that the ends of the strip should be left bare for making good contact with the mercury. The strip 9 in combination with the mercury puddles into which its ends dip may be regardedasa'switch which is operated by the coil .11.,

The apparatusmay be connected in circuit by running the negative side of the circuit through the coil 11 to the negative elec-' t-rode 3, and by running the positive side of the circuit both to the permanent positive electrode 2 and to the temporary positive electrode 8.

5 I may interpose in the common positive wire, or at any other suitable point in the circuit, an inductance device 12, and in the branch to the electrode 8 a resistance 13.

When the main circuit is first closed, our- 10 rent will pass through the said inductance device and resistance to the temporary positive electrode 8, thence by way of the strip 9 to the negative electrode 3 and thence back through the coil or solenoid 11. The

latter, becoming energized, will lift the rod 10 and the strip 9, until the ends of the strip \are moved away from the surfaces of the electrodes. Thereupon arcs will be formed between the strip ends and the said surfaces, which will, in practice, result in a local flow of current directly across between the electrodes 3 and 8. Thereupon, it is found that a flow of current immediately begins between the electrodes 2 and 3, and this flow will continue so long as the conditions for such flow remain favorable.

In Fig. 2, there is no supplemental positive electrode, but the strip 9 initially connects the two permanent electrodes of the apparatus. On the lifting of the rod 10, the negative electrode reluctance is bro-ken down, and current begin to flow, as already described.

. In order to facilitate the establishment of the local current, I cause one end of the strip to dip farther into its electrode than the other, whereby the rupture takes place first at one end or point of the strip and afterward at the other point or end. I prefer usually to have the contact broken at thepositive end 5 of the conductor 9.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a gas or vapor electric apparatus comprising a conducting gas or vapor, a positive electrode and a negative electrode therefor, of a continuous conductor between the positive and the negative electrode, and starting means consisting of means for separating the saidconductor from both electrodes.

2. The combination with a gas or vapor electric apparatus comprising a conducting gas or vapor, a positive and a negative electrode therefor, of a continuous conductor between the positive and the negative electrode, and automatic starting means consisting of means for separating the said conductor from both electrodes.

3. The combination with a-gas or vapor electric apparatus comprising a conducting gas or vapor, a positive electrode and a negative electrode therefor, of a continuous conduct-or between the positive and the negative electrodes, and automatic means for successively separating the said conductor from both electrodes.

4. The combination with a gas or vapor electric apparatus comprising a conducting gas or 'apor, a positive electrode and a negative electrode therefor, of a continuous conductor between the positive and the negative electrodes. and electro-magnetie means for successively separating the said conductor from both electrodes.

The combination with a gas or vapor electric apparatus comprising a conducting gas or vapor, a positive and a negative electrode therefor, of a continuous conductor between the positive and the negative electrodes, and automatic means for separating the said conductor from both electrodes, the rupture of the positive electrode taking place prior to that at the negative.

6. The combination with a gas or vapor electric apparatus comprising a conducting gas or vapor. a positive electrode and anegative electrode therefor, of a continuous conductor between the positive and the negative electrodes, and electro-magnetic means for successively separating the said conductor from both electrodes, the rupture of the positive electrode taking place prior to that at the negative electrode.

7. The combination of an exhausted envelop or chamber, electrodes therefor, one at least of which is adapted to emit vapor, a conducting bridge within the envelop electrically connecting the electrodes and means responsive to current through said bridge for interrupting contact of said bridge at a vapor emitting electrode.

8. The combination of an exhausted envelop or chamber, electrodes therefor, one at least of which is adapted to emit vapor, a conducting bridge within the envelop electrically connecting the electrodes, and means responsive to current through said bridge for interrupting contact of said bridge at the vapor emitting electrode.

' 9. The combination with a completely exhausted container, a main anode and a vaporizable cathode therein, of an additional anode and a solid conductor connecting the last named electrodes inside the container, together with means for separating the said solid conductor from both electrodes.

10. The combination with a completely exhausted container, a main anode and a mercury cathode therein, of an additional anode of mercury, and a solid conductor connecting the last named electrodes within the container, together with means for separating the said solid conductor from both electrodes.

11.. The combination with a completely exhausted container, a main anode and a vapo-rizable cathode therein, of an additional anode and a metallic strip connecting the last named electrodes inside the con- Signed at New York, in the county of 10 tainer, together with means for separating New York, and State of New York, this the said metallic strip from both electrodes. 30th day of April A. D. 1903.

12. In a vapor electric apparatus, the combination of a pluralit of mercury elec- PETER COOPER HEWITT. trodes, a conductor initially connecting said electrodes and means for dissimultaneously breaking the connections at the working surfaces of the respective electrodes.

Witnesses:

WM. .H. CAPEL, GEORGE H. STOCKBRIDGE. 

